Telephone conversation recording



' 7, 1942. J. J. CHIARDIO TELEPHONE CONVERSATION RECORDING Filed May 25, 1941 m 0 2 2 w 4 1 Mb/7 9 6 0 m 1 9 1 Di m mU W30 O O mm m N 2 M v 7 1 M1 7 A INVENTOR fime J Chiardio,

' '4 BY I M- ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1942 I UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE TELEPHONE CONVERSATION RECORDING.

James J. Chiardio, Philadelphia, Pa;

Application May 23, 1 41, Serial No. 394,775

' 2 Claims. (01. 179-61) The object of the inventionis to provide improvements in electric sound recording, but more specifically in the recording of telephone conversations, as for instance in 'order to make permanent records of discussions and oral agreements, contracts and the like.

In the course of business, especially between two parties previously acquainted, orders are frequently placed and various other forms of contracts entered into orally, with no written documentary evidence in case of a dispute, as the terms and conditions are not mentioned other than by word of mouth, which while understood by one party may be misunderstood or even wholly forgotten by the other party. In consequence, there are many cases in which previous friendly relationships are broken off, clients and customers lost, which would have been avoided, had the party in the wrong been able to hear his own (recorded) voice confirm the position taken and view held by the other party. Similarly, important discussions such as diplomatic and governmental exchanges by long-distance telephone, if recorded, would eliminate serious misunderstandings involving entire peoples, to mention only a few occasions for using such a device.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an electrical device, operatively connected in the telephone line at will, such that the party possessing it can instantly begin the recording of any important conversation or part of the same, and'can discontinue such recording as soon as desired after discontinuance of that part of the conversation which only he desires to record.

-A further object is to provide a combination of elements, which will operate electricallyto equalize the intensities of the voices at the opposite ends of the line, even though there'cording device is much closer to the transmitter of one than it is to that of the other.

Further details of construction and operation are hereinafter brought out in the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which diagrammatically representsone end of a telephone line in which is connected the usual transmitter and receiver, in combinationwith apparatus for electrically recording the voice from the adjacent local transmitter to substantially the same degree as it records the voice from the transmitter at the distant end of the line,- which may duplicate the setup illustrated, or may comprise only the usual transmitter and receiver Without a recording device.

of a switch 2, which may comprise the customary hook or similar element that is released when Referring to the drawing, the incoming line Wires l are closed in the usual manner by means the receiver 3 and/or the transmitter 4 is removed from it. Said receiver is in series with the line and also with one or more preferably independent induction coils 5 and a condenser 6, if desired.

In parallel with but independent of said receiver, a shunt line I extends to an amplifier 8 of any suitable construction, but preferably of that type which comprises vacuum tubes 9, such as are widely employed in radioreceiving sets. From the said tubes or the like, wires l0 conduct the amplified current to the diaphragm-actuated stylus ll, operatively associated with a recording cylinder I2 or its equivalent,'which is driven by a motor l3. This motor is connected to one branch l4, while the heating elements of the amplifier tubes are connected to another.

branch 15 of a battery circuit, comprising a battery l6 and a switch I1, said switch being either manually operable independently of the switch 2, or in such. conformity therewith as to drive the motor l3 and energize the tubes 9 automatically,

during and as long as the receiver and transmitter are in use. The said transmitter is connected in the primary telephone line in parallel with said receiver by wires l8 and I9, while a shunt line 20across said transmitter includes either a fixed or variable resistance 2 I, said shunt being connected to the amplifier current line H! leading from the amplifier 8 to the stylus I I.

In the operation of this device, relatively weak electric impulses coming through the line wires l but clearly audible in the receiver 3, are amplified by the tubes 9 upon their being energized by closing the switch [1, thereby causing the sounds to be recorded upon the cylinder 12 or equivalent recording element, the motor of which is also energized and caused to function by and upon the closing of the same switch. At this point it should probably be, explained that while incoming electric impulses and resulting diaphragm vibrations in the receiver 3 are entirely sufiicient accompanying drawing, it willbe understood that the source of electric current in the line I is not shown,-as the same is conventional, but never theless is essential to therecording of sound both from the line and from the nearer trans-.

mitter.

receiver and receiving its input current from the line, a transmitter in parallel with said receiver,

a sound recording device comprising an electromagneticly actuated element, the output from said amplifying elementbeing connected to said last-named element, a resistance, an auxiliary circuit including said transmitter and said resistance also connected to said electromagneticly actuated element, a source of current, a motor to drive said recording device, and parallel circuits including said current source in common and respectively energizing said amplifying element and said motor.

It will be evident from an understanding of this invention, that the telephoneloperator, having the receiver I and transmitter l is able to carry on a conversation with a distant station in the usual manner; that is, without recording the voice of either person. However, when the operator desires to record any part or all of such a conversation, he merely closes the switch 11, thereby set-.

ting in motion the motor I! and simultaneously energizing the tubes 9, immediately placing the apparatus in condition for recording both conyersations without further attention, said lastmentioned switch being again opened when such recording is no longer desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I' claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent 01 the United Statesis:

1. In a telephone circuit, a local station co'mprising the combination of a receiver, with a current-amplifying element in parallel with said 2. In a telephone circuit, a local station comprising the combination of a receiver, with a current amplifying element in parallel with said receiver and receiving its inputcurrent directly I from the line, a transmitter in parallel with said receiver, a sound recording device comprising an electromagneticly actuated element in opera tive relation to a rotatable impression-receiving element, the output from said amplifying element being connected to said electromagneticly actuated element, a variable resistance, an auxiliary shunt circuit including said transmitter and said resistance also connected to said electromagneticly'actuated element, a, source of current,

a motor to drive said impression-receiving element, and parallel circuits including said current source in-common and respectively energizing said amplifying element and said motor.

JAMES J. cmarm'ro. 

